El Nido Reservoir in Merced County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Merced County end of California holds El Nido Reservoir. Height above sea level is 180 feet. At 20 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our California listings. Supplies mean a trip to Chowchilla, 9.3 miles off. Then Merced, 11 miles, and Le Grand, 11 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on El Nido Reservoir

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Across Merced County, recorded fish include common carp, striped bass, Sacramento sucker and bluegill. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On El Nido Reservoir the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 77°F and December near 44°F on the long-run figures. Winter is a mild inconvenience here, nothing more. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to El Nido Reservoir. Wind on the bank for a day or two lifts the fishing there.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Yosemite Lake is 16 miles off. Check the current arrangement for El Nido Reservoir.